Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Ugh, more like “My
Big Fat Greek Trainwreck.” Now the nostalgia reaper has come to
claim the souls of middle-aged book clubbers who who could care less
about brooding caped crusaders. Of course, one doesn't need to be
50-something to enjoy the irresistible charm of the cloying but
lovable Portokalos family introduced fourteen years ago in the indie
(but Tom Hanks-backed) big fat smash hit “My Big Fat Big Greek
Wedding.” I, like many American moviegoers, fell in love with it.
It certainly wasn't the most original movie to ever come along but
somehow it's innocence and honesty and wittiness in portraying a
woman's struggle to find herself in a sea of her gigantic clingy
ethnic family was universally relateable. Even if you weren't
specifically Greek you easily saw yourself surrounded by your equally
gigantic clingy family whether it be Jewish, Italian or [insert other
borderline stereotypical ethnicity here]. It was harmless fun.

Harmless fun is what
I'm sure screenwriter/actress Nia Vardalos had in mind with the
long-awaited (for some I guess?) sequel unimaginatively titled “My
Big Fat Greek Wedding 2.” Fortunately, the entire cast returns.
Like everyone, really. Unfortunately, Vardalos, even in fourteen
years doesn't quite manage for anything all that interesting for
these people to do. And even if they were sort of ethnically
stereotypical the firs time, they've been upgraded to practically Looney Tunes
characters. Not to mention that many of them haven't quite aged very
well. I'm no fitness expert but many of them certainly have the fat
part down.

The film picks up
fourteen years after the last film and Toula (Vardalos) and Ian (John
Corbett) are preparing for their teenage daughter Paris to select a
college. Toula, even though she was the free-thinking black sheep who
had her own Cinderella story the first time around has become just as
clingy and annoying has her parents. Her marriage also seems to be on
the rocks for reasons the script doesn't quite explain. More
annoyingly is the film's central plotline which involves her parents
Gus (Michael Constantine) and Maria (Lainie Kazan) not actually being
married because the priest never signed their marriage certificate.

I appreciate
Vardalos giving the elder actors meaty roles in a day and age when
everything must be young and flashy and of a certain marketable
demographic but both actors seem to have seen better days and don't
quite have the same comedic timing they had the first time around.
The rest of the actors you remember show up here as well with not all
that much to do except mug for the camera. The first film's MVP Andrea Martin as Aunt Voula doesn't get as many funny lines even when
she's discussing all her strange bodily aliments (As a side note, can we get a "My Cousin Vinny" spin-off in which Martin plays Mona Lisa Vito's mother, please?) Martin really tries
to sell it. The bland sitcom-like direction from Kirk Jones certainly
doesn't do her any favors. Even the film's technical merits feel lazy
and uninspired.

It's obvious
Vardalos really cherishes being Greek and wants to share her
experiences with filmgoers. It's ripe material that was handled well
the first time around. It's also abundantly clear that she favors
progressiveness hence why her character arch from the first film was
so memorable if predictable. She displays a little bit more of that
ideology with the revelation of a certain male character who randomly
comes out of the closet. It's a brief subplot (among others
involving Alexander the Great and the dangers of bathtubs) but
wouldn't the film be more interesting, unexpected, and fresh had the
film revolved around this big fat Greek nuptial instead? The movie
already relies on mildly offensive ethnic stereotypes, why not throw
in some gay ones as well?

It's sort of obvious
that, in the end, a sequel to “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” was not even a good
idea in the first place. But geez this family is oh-so-lovable, for the most part. However, even the spin-off/sequel TV sitcom barely lasted seven
episodes on CBS back in 2003. You don't remember it? Neither do I. The
first film wasn't exactly a beacon of originality or quality cinema but it
was magical, harmless fun. It made you feel happy. And like the greatest movie comedies,
endlessly quotable. It's obvious here that you can't quite capture
lightning in a bottle twice, even if it's big, fat, and Greek. GRADE: C-

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About Me

"Hello, Clarice." Welcome to my film review blog. I've been reviewing theatrical movies since 2005. In addition to writing movie reviews (not to mention best of year lists, Oscar predictions, and other fun movie-related lists) I have had reviews and articles published on DarkHorizons.com and at WhatCulture.com. I've also achieved my longtime dream of appearing on RottenTomatoes.com. My favorite film genre is horror though I have rather eclectic cinematic tastes. I can easily go from watching artsy stuff like Under the Skin to stupid action stuff like Transformers (but please dear lord make them stop). I also enjoy running, cooking, and eating the spiciest foods I can find.